Box picker and the manufacture of the same



Nov. 27, 1945. J. .1; BROWN 2,389,952

BOX PICKER AND THE MANUFACTURE OF THE SAME I Filed Jul 8, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 1 13 T T 3 13 M "Hm: ll; 1 I 3} I if? M W W I l V 1 HI ""1W I, 3a lhi wjl W i a W W i 113w I I 13/ 641] INVENTbR.

rfozwvf'flqawn/ 1 Nov; 27, 1945. J. J. BROWN 2,389,952

BOX PICKER AND THE MANUFACTURE OF THE SAME Filed July 8, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. TJEJH/V 1:7. .B/PQW/v Patented Nov. '27, 19452.389.952 Box rrcxna'ann rm: MANUFACTURE or rm: SAME John L Brown,Newton Falls, om, asslgnor to Denman Tire and Rubber Company, Warren.Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application July 8.1944. Serial No.544,011;

' 7 Claims. 139-159) This invention relates in improvements in loompickers and methods of the same, and it relates particularly to loompickers which are i'ormed oi impregnated textile fabrics.

The best .prior type of loom picker has a body formed of rawhide and abearing portion permitting the device to be mounted on aslide rod forreciprocation therealong by means of a picker stick that engages in anaperture in the web oithe picker. The opposite end of the picker isprovided with a knob or head which is adapted to engagethe loom shuttle.

Numerous attempts have been made heretofore to produce pickers fromtextile fabrics which are impregnated with resinous or rubberymaterials. Usually such pickers are formed by wrapping the impregnatedtextile fabric around a flat form to provide a blank having a pluralityof layers or laminations. This 'multi-layer sheet of material is thencut into a suitable shape and a tube of resin-impregnated paper or othersimilar material is inserted in one end to form a bearing for receivingthe rod on which the picker is mounted. With the tube and a supportingmandrel in place, the multi-layer picker blank is sub- .iected topressure and vulcanization-to mold it into the desired shape. v

Pickers of thi type have not been very satisfactory for the reason thatthe molding opera-' tion almost invariably forms wrinkles in the web ofthe picker between the bearing portion and the picker head with theresult that the picker is a picker formed oi impregnated andvulcanizedtextile fabric which is free of wrinkles and zones of weakness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vulcanized textilefabric picker which is so constructed and arranged that the resinousmaterial used for impregnating the bearing tube therein cannot flow intothe aperture for receiving the picker stick.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of producingpickers which overcomes the formation of wrinkles and zones of weaknessin the picker and prevents the flow of hard resinous material into thepicker stick aperture.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of a typical weakened and breaks at this point. Moreover, I

the resin material impregnating the bearing tube must be of a type thatcan be vulcanized, poly Inerized, or condensed to an extremely hardcondition in order to withstand the wear to which it is subjected.Inasmuch as this resin is only in a partially set condition prior tovulcanization of the picker, it softens and flows down into the aperturein which the picker stick is received. Upon setting, the resinousmaterial becomes almost as hard as metal and as a result, it abrades andwears out-the end of the picker stick.

Attempts have been made to overcome this defeet by omitting the bearingtube, but the results.

have been unsatisfactory for the reason that oil flows onto the pickerfrom the slide rod oi. the

loom and causes deterioration of the rubber in.

the picker.

An object of the present invention is to provide a picker which is notsubject to the defects of prior textile fabric pickers of the typedescribed above.

Another object of the invention is to provide form of pickerillustrating the present invention.

Pickers embodying the present invention are characterized by a bodyincluding a picker head, a web and a bearing portion formed generally ofmulti-layer fabric impregnated with rubber orsynthetic rubber and havinga bearing sleeve formed of resin-impregnated material having a very hardbearing surface. Such pickers are particularly characterized by thepresence of triangular wedges of impregnated fabric interposed betweenthe bearing portion of the picker and its web which act to provide asmoothly tapering web portion which is free from wrinkles. The wedgesserve the additional purpose of preventing the leakage of the resin fromthe bearing sleeve into the picker stick aperture in the web during theI vulcanizing operation.

In general, pickers of the type embodying the present invention areformed by rolling the edge of a sheet of fabric to a suitable diameter,then wrapping the sheet of fabric around a generally flat form toproduce a laminated tubular sheet. After the form is removed and thesheet has been cut'into blanks generally of the outline f the finishedpicker, amandrel carrying a rolled sleeve formed of paper or similarmaterial containing a partially set resinous material is inserted in thelaminated fabric, at the end opposite to the rolled edge of the sheet.Wedges are then placed in the web portion of the picker adjacent to thebearing tube and the whole is vulcanized under heat I and pressure in asuitable mold.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may behad to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the first step in thepreparation of pickers embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of 9. rolled web of material produced in themanner disclosed in Fig. l and illustrating the shape of the pickerblanks cut from the rolled web;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a partially shaped picker just prior toinsertion thereof in a mold for vulcanization;

Fig. 4-is a plan view of the partially formed picker disclosed in Fig. 3and,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the completed picker.

Pickers of the type embodying the present invention may be suitablyformed from a sheet of fabric, such as chafer, osnaburg, or a squarewoven fabric which hasbeen calendered or covered on both sides with avulcanizable compound such as an unvulcanized material or syntheticrubber compound. A sheet F of such fabric, for example, about five feetwide, may be supported upon a roll behind a table and may be drawn offof the roll and the forward edge coiled or rolled to form a roll orpigtail HI. The fabric F may then be wound around the pigtail l0 andization, the wedges I! prevent the flow of the resinous material fromthe ends of the bearing tube I5 into the aperture l4 and thereby preventdeposits of. hard material which would cause undesirable wear on thepicker stick.

The mold is so arranged that the edges Me or the opening are beveled orcurved slightly during a board or bar of metal II to producer. multiplelayer roll or flattened tube I! of a desired thickness. After the fabricF has been shaped into this form, the bar ll may be removed and a sheetof paper or strips of cardboard substituted for the bar II in order toprevent the opposite sides of the web from adhering together. This roll[2 may then be delivered to a cutting device where the roll is cut intoa plurality of separate pieces I3 which are generally of the outline ofa conventional picker and have an aperture l4 punched through themid-portion thereof for reception of a picker stick in the usual way, asshown in Fig. 2. The partially formed tubular blanks l3 have a short,but thick edge portion l3a containing the roll or pigtail l0 andtherefore a greater number of laminations than the remainder of theblank, a mid-portion |3b forming the web of the picker, and a longerbearing receiving portion l3c.

After the blanks l3 have been cut, the sheets of paper or cardboardtherein may be removed and a tube l5 of cardboard, heavy strong paper,or other similar fibrous material, impregnated with a partiallycondensed thermosetting resin, such as a phenol formaldehyde resin, isinserted in the longer end I of the form, as best shown in Fig. 3.

The bearing tube l5 may be formed by rolling the paper upon a metal rodor mandrel "5 which remains in the tube during subsequent operations.After insertion of the tube l5 and mandrel l6, generally wedge-shapedblocks I], preferably formed of fabric which has been impregnated with avulcanizable compound, such as an unvulcanized natural or syntheticrubber compound, or formed of other suitable material like a syntheticresin or thelike, are inserted in the web portion beneath the tube l5and between the edges of the blank and aperture l4 therein. Thesewedge-shaped portions tend to maintain a gradual taper of the webportion from adiamolding inorder to permit free oscillation of thepicker stick in the opening it and the edge portions "a and I30 areshaped into generally cylindrical form. Also, any portion of the webwhich may extend into the opening I is molded tightly against the undersurfaceof the bearing tube l5, leaving the opening I unobstructed andrelatively smooth.

After completion of the molding and vulcanizing operation, the mandrel.is may be knocked out of the bearing tube l5 and the picker is thenready for use.

From the preceding description of a typical I form of picker and methodof producing the cent the bearing down into the web l3b so that sharpbends in the fabric are avoided and formation of wrinkles therein isprevented.

After the wedges I1 have been inserted, the

web 13b is pressed together with a suitable clamp same set forth above,it will be apparent that the principal defects of such fabric pickershave been overcome thereby. Thus, the web of the picker may be formedsmoothly without structural defects that might cause breakage in use anda smooth hard but non-abrasive surface is provided in the picker stickaperture which greatly prolongs the wear of the picker sticks inoperation.

It will be understood, of course, that the pickers according to thepresent invention may be made in various shapes and sizes as the purposedemands, and, therefore, the form of picker described above should beconsidered as illustrative only and not as limiting the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a method of preparing a loom picker, the steps comprising forminga flattened tubular blank consisting of a p urality of laminations offabric impregnated with a vulcanizable compound, having a short edgecontaining a greater number of laminations than the remainder of saidblank, a longer opposite edge and an intermediate web portion.containing an aperture in its mid-portion, inserting in said blankadjacent said longer edge a bearing tube of fibrous material impregnatedwith a partially set, thermosetting resin, inserting wedges in the endsof said blank on opposite sides of said aperture and adjacent saidbearing tube. said wedges tapering from said bearing tube toward saidshort edge and being substantially coextensive with the ends of saidaperture. placing the assembly in a mold, and

rolled edge to form a laminated tube, cutting saidtube to form a pickerblank having a narrower knob portion containing a portion of said rollededge, a wide bearing receiving j portion and an interconnecting webhaving a picker stick aperaaaaota ture therein, inserting. aresin-impregnated bearing tube in said bearing receiving portion, in-

serting wedges on opposite sides of said aperture and substantially incontact with said bearing tube, and subjecting said blank, tube andwedges to heat and pressure to vulcanize said vulcanizable and resinouscompounds and form a unitary structure.

3. A method of preparing a loom picker comprising rolling up one edge ofa sheet of fabric impregnated with a vulcanizable compound, wrappingsaid fabric around a form and said rolled edge to form a laminated tube,cutting said tube to form a picked blank having a maxrower knob portioncontaining a portion of said rolled edge, a wide bearing receivingportion and an interconnecting web having a picker stick aperturetherein, inserting a resin-impregnated bearing tube in said bearingreceiving portion, inserting wedges formed of laminated fabric iinpregnated with a vulcanizable compound on opposite sides of saidaperture and substantially in contact with said bearing tube, andsubjecting said blank, tube and wedges to heat and pressure 'tovulcanize said vulcanizable and resinous compounds and form a unitarystructure.

4. In a method of preparing a loom picker, the steps comprising windingfabric on a sup port to form a tubular blank containing a plurality oflaminations of fabric impregnated with a vulcanizable compound, cuttingsaid blank to provide a tubular member having a short edge containing agreater number of laminations than the remainder of said blank, a longeropposite edge and an intermediate web portion containing an aperture inits mid-portion, inserting in said blank adjacent said longer edge abearing tube of fibrous material impregnated with a partially set,thermo-setting resin, inserting wedge-shaped members adjacent saidbearing tube at opposite ends of said aperture, said wedge members beingsubstantially coextensive in length with the width of said aperture andtapering from said bearing tube toward said narrow edge, placing theassembly in a mold, and subjecting the assembly shuttle, a relativelythinnerweb portion connectaperture therein for receiving a picker stick,said bearing portion having a resin-impregnated tube of fibrous materialtherein, wedge members at, and substantially coextensive with, the endsof said aperture and tapering inwardly from said bearing portion towardsaid web portion to provide a smooth taper from said bearing portion tosaid web portion, said bearing, web and head portions consistingessentially of an endless band of laminated fabric, having a loop at oneend containing said tube and its opposite sides bonded together to formsaid thinner web portion.

6. A loom picker comprising a bearing portion, a picker head portion forengaging a shuttle, a relatively thinner web portion connecting saidbearing and head portions and having an aperture therein for receiving apicker stick, said bearing, picker head and web portions comprising anendless band of laminated fabric having opposite side portions bondedtogether with avulcanized rubbery compound to form said web and providea loop at said bearing portion, a resinimpregnated tube of fibrousmaterial in said loop and bonded thereto, and wedge members formed ofvulcanized laminated fabric between and bonded to said side portions at,and substantially coextensive with, the ends of said aperture to providea smooth taper from said bearing portion to said web portion.

7. A loom picker comprising a tubular bearing portion, a shorter,cylindrical picker head portion for engaging a shuttle, a relativelythinner web portion connecting said bearing and head portions and havingan aperture therein ,for receiving a picker stick, said bearing portionhaving a resin-impregnated tube of fibrous material therein, and wedgemembers formed of vulcanized laminated fabric at, and substantiallycoextensive with, the ends of said aperture to provide a smooth taperfrom said bearing portion to said web portion, said web and bearingportions consisting of an endless band of laminated fabric including acoil of fabric in one end of the band forming the picker head, and inwhich said fabric is bonded with a vulcanized rubbery compound andopposite sides of said band are vulcanized together to form said webportion.

Jorm J. BROWN.

